WHIPPER-IN 183 



hardest ; the proof of their being so, is that they 

 forget they must go on till night, but men who 

 hunt with hounds only can go home when they 

 please. A proof of a clever whipper-in is, that he 

 is always up at a check, without ever being seen in 

 front except by accident, and no one else there ; 

 but it is his duty to hold in, and by that means he 

 has always something left in his horse when others 

 are beaten. There are whippers-in now going who 

 are never seen in a quick thing, and yet are never 

 missed, because they are always up when wanted. 

 A^Hio looks for a whipper-in, except then ? He 

 does not hunt the fox. And if he has a good eye 

 and ear, with a knowledge of the country, by keep- 

 ing within sight, or hearing, takes advantage of 

 every turn of the hounds, and saves much distance 

 and severe ground. Nor is it fair to abuse a 

 whipper-in for not being mth hounds on aU 

 occasions, particularly when the huntsman is very 

 quick ; for there are some who handle their hounds, 

 and get about so quickly, that if the whip had only 

 to follow him without looking after a hound, he 

 would have enough to do to keep with him. In 

 short, with a quick huntsman, if this allowance was 

 not made, even a real good whip would soon lose 

 his character in the opinion of many who do not 



